FAA announces locations for future drone testing sites

Drones are coming to America – the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday the six states chosen to develop test sites for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia were
chosen by the FAA as the agency moves towards integrating
commercial drones into American skies.

The goal is to have drones operated by businesses, farmers and
government agencies sharing the same space as commercial
airplanes by the year 2015, though it’s possible it may take
longer to draft the proper rules and regulations.

"These test sites will give us valuable information about how
best to ensure the safe introduction of this advanced technology
into our nation's skies," Transportation Secretary Anthony
Foxx told the Associated Press.

The test sites, scheduled to be operational through 2017, will be
developed at the following locations:

- University of Alaska: Will help develop standards for state
monitoring and navigation, as well as safety.

- State of Nevada: Will study standards and requirements for
operators. It will also research exactly how air traffic control
procedures will change with the introduction of drones into the
sky.

- New York’s Griffiss International Airport: Will focus its
research on how drones and commercial airplanes will sense and
avoid colliding with each other in congested airspace.

- North Dakota Department of Commerce: Will develop
“airworthiness” data as well as reliable links that share
information between drones and other aircraft.

- Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi: Will develop safety
system requirements.

- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Will test
failure mode procedure and other risks should a drone malfunction
while in the air.

Although the FAA does not sanction the commercial use of drones
just yet, it estimates that close to 8,000 unmanned vehicles
could be in the sky within five years of being granted access to
American airspace.

"Safety continues to be our first priority as we move forward
with integrating unmanned systems into US airspace," FAA
Administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement. "We have
successfully brought new technology into the nation's aviation
system for more than 50 years, and I have no doubt we will do the
same with unmanned aircraft."

Studies have estimated that between 70,000 – 100,000 American
jobs could be created by a widespread drone industry that
generates more than $80 billion in economic activity. Amazon.com
CEO Jeff Bezos has already declared his interest in using drones
to deliver packages.

Others, however, are less excited about the prospect of drones
taking over US skies. The American Civil Liberties Union has
spoken out against giving these vehicles greater access to
American airspace in the past, saying it would move the country
towards "a surveillance society in which our every move is
monitored, tracked, recorded and scrutinized by the
authorities.”